Black Sea Triptych
by and published in Edition Eight of Pomegranate
(Left)
Not far from here is the latest Madonna, birthed by water, staining rock
where the sane lay down in streets to lick her ferrous and flat diaphanous feet.
(Center)
A church by the sea. Abandoned.
The sign says no pictures, but I take one
of four six-winged seraphim who have
no throne. Unheard of! They huddle
around that space where god is not.
The caretaker approaches, and I leave them be…
(Right)
Icons line the cliff face etched by celibates stiff
and long dead, while the graffiti of their young
haunt their beards, such as
Theodora whores
on Saint Cyril’s nose.
These are their mysteries.
(Wholly of holies)
Joe Wiinikka-Lydon
Joe Wiinikka-Lydon has lived and worked in a number of places, including Bosnia, Turkey and Kenya and has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. He lives outside of Boston in central Massachusetts (US).